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What are the signs of a poor fitting saddle?
- White hairs along the withers under the saddle indicating blood circulation to the skin has been cut off for lengths of time due to pressure
- Hollow back, will not lift its back, “cold backed”, back sinks when mounted
- Sores on the back, soft blisters or hard painless lumps, hair loss under the saddle
- Muscle atrophy on one or both sides of the withers, behind the withers, or loin
- Temporary swelling after removing the saddle
- Higher than normal head carriage, head tossing
- Refusing to stand still while the saddle is placed or while being mounted
- Flinching or laying back (pinning) their ears while being groomed along the back
- Bucking or rearing, spooking
- Inability to use the back correctly, difficultly collecting, bucking, rearing, or spooking
- Unwillingness to move forward under saddle
- Inability to bend laterally and/or inability to travel straight
- Wringing or carrying tail off to one side
- Shortened, choppy or disjointed gaits, short striding, dragging toes or obscure limb lameness
- Refusing jumps
- Difficult to catch
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